Yeah,thats pretty much the question.I know a third of the angels followed lucifer in the rebellion,but im not too clear on the ones still remaining with God.anybody care to speculate?
I am just researching this question. so take that in mind.
Evidently, NO, Angels do not have free will.
Here is a portion of an article by Sam Storms, with the last part giving evidence that Angels do not have free will:
The word "angel" (angelos) occurs in 34 of the 66 books of the Bible: 108x in OT and over 165x in NT = @ 275 x in the Bible.
b. Jesus believed in and experienced the ministry of angels: (1) his conception was announced by an angel (Gabriel); (2) his birth was announced by angels; (3) he was tempted by a fallen angel; (4) he was ministered to by angels subsequent to the temptation; (5) his teaching is filled with references to angelic beings; (6) he experienced the ministry of angels in Gethsemane; (7) he could have appealed to twelve legions of angels (Mt. 26:53); (8) they were present at his tomb following the resurrection; (9) they were present at his ascension. The point is that angels were an integral part of Christ's birth, life, ministry, teaching, death, resurrection, ascension, and will accompany him at his second advent.
To deny the reality of the angelic world is to undermine the integrity of Jesus himself.
c. Consider the witness/testimony/experience of countless Christians . . .
(2) Where did they come from?
a. Angels, no less than humans, were created at a point in time. Ps. 148:2-5; John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16. Each angel is a direct creation: i.e., they did not descend from an original pair as we did; they do not procreate as we do (Mt. 22:28-30).
b. When were angels created? Most likely they were created before the events of Gen. 1:1ff. See Job 38:4-7.
c. In what moral state were they created? They must have been created righteous and upright for the simple fact that God does not directly create evil. Several texts assert or imply an original act of rebellion (Rev. 12; Col. 1).
(3) What are they like?
a. personality
The basic elements of personality are intellect, emotion, will, self-consciousness, self-determination, a sense of moral obligation (i.e., conscience) and the power to pursue it, etc. Angels certainly are intelligent but not omniscient (1 Pt. 1:12; Mk. 13:32), experience emotion (Job 38:7; Luke 15:10; Rev. 4-5), and exercise their wills (Rev. 12).
Were angels created in the image and likeness of God? The image of God entails, among other things, personality, dominion, capacity for relationship, self-consciousness, etc.
b. properties
1. spirit beings - immaterial, incorporeal; no flesh or blood or bones; they are "ministering spirits" (Heb. 1:14).
Although they are spirits, they have spatial limitations, i.e., they are not omnipresent. See Dan. 9:21-23; 10:10-14 where we find both spatial movement and temporal limitations.
2. spirit bodies - in some sense of the word they have "bodies," though not of a physical nature; i.e., they are spatially confined (their "form" or "shape" is not distributed throughout space); they are localized.
Do angels have literal "wings"? Isa. 6:2,6; Ezek. 1:5-8; Gabriel is portrayed as flying to Daniel's side (9:21; cf. Rev. 14:6-7).
3. gender/sex - Mt. 22:28-30; hence they do not procreate; they are always described in the masculine gender (but see Zech. 5:9).
4. immortality - they are not inherently immortal, but derivatively (Lk. 20:36)
c. powers
1. they are able to assume the form and appear as humans: a) to the naked eye (Lk. 1:11-13; 1:26-29; Mt. 28:1-7); b) in visions and dreams (Mt. 1:20; Isa. 6); c) in the form of a man (Gen. 18:1-8; in this case they were sufficiently "real" in their appearance that the homosexuals in S & G lusted after them; see also Mark 16:5); d) other forms (Dan. 10:5-6; Mt. 28:3; Rev. 4:6-8).
Reactions to angelic appearances: mental and emotional agitation; fear; loss of composure; etc.
2. all angelic power is subject to God's power and purpose (Ps. 103:20; 2 Pt. 2:11).
Gen. 19:12-16 (used of God to destroy S & G); 2 Kings 19:35 (one angel killed 185,000 Assyrians); Mt. 28:2 (an angel moved the stone from Christ's tomb); Acts 12 (an angel entered a locked prison and released Peter); Acts 12:23 (an angel killed Herod); Rev. 7:2-3 (angels influence the phenomena of nature); Mt. 24:31 (angels gather the saints at Christ's second coming).
d. position
Angels are of two moral orders or categories: elect/holy (Mk. 8:38; 1 Tim. 5:21) and evil (Lk. 8:2). Evidently, after the rebellion/fall of Satan and his hosts, all angels were confirmed in their moral state: God preserves the elect/holy angels and will not redeem the evil ones. Why do we deny the possibility of redemption for fallen angelic beings? (1) there is no record of such in Scripture; (2) there is no record in Scripture of demonic repentance; (3) the impact of the cross on demons is always portrayed as judgment, never salvation (nowhere do we read of justification, forgiveness, redemption, adoption, regeneration, etc. being true of any angelic being); (4) Hebrews 2:14-17; Rev. 5:8-14.
Hmmm... Good question =) I would say that no more angels will fall, but don't know that this would imply that they don't have free will any longer... more just that I believe the angels who did not rebel along with Satan will be forever yielded to God.
In Revelation 12:3-9, we're provided with the imagery of the tail of a red dragon sweeping out 1/3 of the stars in the sky and hurling them onto the earth. Because of other references likening Satan to a star, it is commonly accepted that the Revelation 12 passage is referring to Satan and the other fallen angels. If that interpretation is correct, then it would be reasonable to conclude that the rebellion of the angels was a one time occurence that will not be repeated.
Also, when the rebellion is discussed explicitely in the Bible, it does not give the notion that such rebellion is an ongoing issue. Jude 1:6 says: "And the angels who did not keep their position of authority but abandoned their own home--these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great day." This is in the past tense... Which isn't the strongest argument ever... But, that's my humble opinion.
Will be interesting to see what others think about this! =)
I believe angels do have free will, as Isaiah 14:12-14 tells us.
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
In three short verses, Lucifer says "I will" five times. This was in rebellion to God. Proves to me that he had free will.
Having a will is one thing, but then putting the word "free" in front of it is another thing altogether, and requires some evidence if you wish to teach that it is true.
I would think that being sinful and wicked for many years, would make the will more inclined and enslaved TO sin.
James you are right. the example is in believing the word of God as it is written, in otherwords The scripture makes that very clear. I will, he willed, The lord sure did not tell him to be prideful and to rebel, just as he influenced Adam and eve, and of course in both cases, the act changed that as it was created. Some would try to tell us The lord could do whatever he wanted, Just because he is God,
the law of sowing and reaping, had already been established, as well as the law of faith. The perverted sowing, reaped perverted harvest.
If Lucifer did not have the 'free' will to say I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne, I will be like the most High, where did this 'will' come from? How can one 'will' to do something if there is no freedom to do that 'will'? Just the phrase "I will" tells me that one chooses and is in control of what they will to do, whether it occurs or not.
The more I contemplate this, I wouldn't really use the term "free will" at all when describing Satan or other fallen angels. I believe that they are fully given over to darkness and that there is no possibility for any kind of redemption for them. In Jude, it likens Sodom and Gomorrah to them in that they suffer punishment of the "eternal fire." In my opinion, this implies that their "fate" has already been decided. And where there is no hope or choice for a different outcome, I don't think that we really can correctly apply to the term "free will" to their decisions. When we say that man has free will, I think we mean that he has the ability (through the working of God) to turn towards the Lord or away from Him. Someone who has been permanently cast off no longer has that choice available to him.
Very interesting response but, how does that agree with scripture, I dont see where it does anywhere.
Satan choose evil, so that is exactly what he got, he was and is under the same law of sowing and reaping, he exercises his will today, just a s he did in the Garden, he is still doing as he wills on the earth, Yes there will a day he will be thrown into the pit, but that has not happened yet.
So if he is not doing a she wills, who is directing him?
